Surfacing machine



Jlfly 26, 1938 w. o, LOCKLIN ,1

SURFACING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1935 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r 1 ATTORNEY July 26, 1938. w Q -LOCKLIN 2,124,705

SURFACING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 allu m INVENTOR QZOcX' BY %'S ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

My present invention relates to abrading machines and more particularly to power driven portable machines of the kind that is taken to its work instead of the reverse, and it has for its object to provide a simple, durable and efficient machine of this character particularly adapted for surfacing concrete and similar walls. The improvements are directed in part toward rendering the machine capable of smoothing the ceiling, side walls and floor of a room with equal facility; toward the mounting of the abrading head whereby this feature is developed, and toward the adjusting means for carrying the head toward and from its work. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be more fully described hereinafter, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is, what may be termed as well as not, a front elevation of an abrading machine constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention, the same being shown at work against a side or vertical wall;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the machine converted and at work upon a floor or lower horizontal surface;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine adjusted for and at work against a ceiling or upper horizontal surface;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the working face of the abrading head;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section through one of the abrasive blocks thereon taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary central section in the axis of the transmission shaft through the transmission gear between the drive shaft and the head spindle;

Fig. 8 is a similar section taken horizontally through said axis on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a further enlarged detail section through the spindle bearing taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. "I;

Fig. 10 is a detail horizontal section through the driving shaft bearing taken substantially on the line l-I0 of Fig. '7, and

Fig. 11 is a detail of the stop plate for the spindle turret taken in section on the line I l-H of Fig. 8.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

My machine, as illustrated, to first give a general idea of its construction and use, embodies a frame or carriage mounted on wheels to be pushed about as the abrading head traverses a ceiling, side wall or floor in a concrete building tobring to a smooth plane condition the hardened surface thereof. To achieve this versatility, the abrading head revolves to any of the several necessary positions on a rotary turret by which its spindle is carried. The turret is vertically adjusted or, rather, has two different positions for floor and ceiling work on a vertically adjustable frame mounted on the carriage. The latter carries a prime mover and the drive and transmission therefrom to the head is made adaptable 15 to the movements of the frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I indicates a rectangular angle iron carriage frame having an axle 2 carrying ground wheels 3 at the front functioning in company with a trailing caster 4 at the rear. The prime mover 5, in the present form of an electric motor, mounted on the floor of the carriage has a direct driving connection through a pinion 6 on the motor shaft with a bevel gear 1 on the inner and lower element 8 of a telescopic drive shaft, the upper companion and tubular element of which, indicated at 9, is slotted and keyed thereto at In for extension and contraction, as will be understood.

Slidable vertically on the front angles of the carriage frame I is an extension frame ll held thereto in the manner best shown in Fig. 4. It consists of angle irons l2 connected by tie pieces l3 to ride against the inner faces of the angles I. Gibs l4 welded to the frame angles through spacing strips l5 engage the outer and side faces of the carriage frame pieces. A cable I6 attached to the lower portion of frame ll, runs over an idle pulley I1 and thence rearwardly to a ratchet windlass or drum I8, provided with a crank, by 0 means of which the frame H may be raised and lowered and adjusted to any desired height within limits for floor or ceiling work and to regulate a height of the operations upon vertical wall surfaces.

The upper end of the frame H is provided with a cross head 19 (Fig. 7) containing a bearing 20 for a jack shaft 2|, said bearing including a sleeve 22. A rearwardly extending bracket 23 on the head provides a bearing between col- 5 lars 24 and 25 on the outer tubular element 9 of the drive shaft whereby the latter is supported. Another bracket 26 provides a bearing for the hub of a miter gear 21 splined to the driving shaft element and held in place by a collar 28.

The gear 2? meshes with a similar gear 29 fixed to the jack shaft 2! whereby the latter is driven.

On the forwardly projecting end of sleeve 22 there is mounted to turn freely a yoke 30 constituting a bearing bracket. Its two bearings 3| and 32 carry a spindle 33 for an abrading head or disk 3 The spindle is grooved at 35 and splincd thereon at 35 is the hub of a miter gear 3? so that the spindle may slide through and yet be rotated by the gear. The said hub of the latter occupies the bearing to which it is held by collar 38 and this gear meshes and is driven by a miter gear 39 fixed to the further projecting end of the jack shaft 2|. This brings us to a point where it is clear that the spindle 33 may be rotated and driven from the base motor 5 at any desired elevation of the'carrying frame or carriage H.

The abrading head 3 2, as best shown in 'Figs. 1, 5, and 6, comprises, as before stated, a disk upon the outer face of which are secured a plurality of blocks of abrasive material 40, preferably radially arranged and three in number as shown whereby uniform contact of all is assured with the mode of supporting the disk about to be explained. Each block is secured in a recess in the disk by means of a wedge shaped gib 4i screwed to the disk with an intervening wooden strip $2 between it and the block. These wooden strips avoid harsh contacts between the wedges and the. blocks and, being slightly compressible, maintain an even clamping pressure against the blocks. As will be readily seen from Fig. 6, the tighter the wedge 52 is screwed down, the greater will be the clamping pressure against the block n]. The blocks 46 may consist of carborundum or similar abrasive, or any suitable cutting, grinding, or polishing material or tool. Brushes may also be employed in place of the blocks 40, when it is desired to wash or clean the surface operated upon, rather than to abrade or cut it.

The disk 3 3 has secured to-its under side three bolts or posts 43 which are reciprocatably held in a spider a l fixed to the outer end of the spindle'33. The posts are headed and are encircled by springs 45 interposed between the spider and the disk so that the latter is yieldably and resiliently supported. In other words, it is a floating connection that equalizes the contact of the abrading blocks with the work when axial pressure is applied to the spindle. I

Further resilience and spring pressure in an outward direction is imparted to the spindle by a coil compression spring 46 that encircles its inner end and reacts between the bearing 32'and a collar 41 adjustably secured :to the spindle within the yoke bracket 30. Thus, in Fig. 3, the head is at work against a ceiling C under the pressure of springs 35 and 46 acting jointly.

With the foregoing description, it is deemed unnecessary to further explain the mode of operation and use of the device. The mobility of the carriage 8 together with the vertical offset of the abrading head with reference thereto and to the wheels 3 permits the operator to traverse the entire surface of a ceiling. Much the same thing is done in surfacing a side wall. The bracket yoke 36 is simply swung to a horizontal position at right or left, as may be more convenient for reaching the particular wall, as shown in Fig. 1, in the following manner, the side wall with which the head is engaged being indicated at W in that view.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 8 and 11, the cross head l9 is pr'ovided with a boss 28 having four stop notches 49 therein apart at top, bottom and the two sides. Mounted on the hub of the bracket yoke 30 is a spring latch 50 that rides on boss 48 to engage and lock selectively with any of the stop notches whereby these ceiling and side wall operating axes of the spindle are changed and established in position, as will be understood. For operations on the floor or the ground line of the supporting wheels, the spindle carrying bracket is changed to another position on the vertically adjustable carriage II in the following manner:

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, in which this adjustment is shown and the abrading head is at work against a floor, 5| indicates the bolt holes at the top of the carriage that define the previously described position of the head l9. With the readjustment, the head is similarly secured at lower end of the carriage, which latter is lowered and the tubular outer portion 9 1? of the telescoping drive shaft with it, so that it still drives the gear 21 and hence the jack shaft to the spindle. The bracket yoke 30 is simply inverted and locked in that position, whereupon the carriage H to impart the desired pressure to the rotating abrading head, as before. The weight of the carriage is ordinarily more than sufiicient to contribute the desired pressure through the springs, which pressure can, of course, be re lieved through the cable l6 and drum l8, just as it would be increased in reverse operations against the ceiling.

To obtain the necessary abrading pressure against a side wall surface, when the machine is used as in Fig. 1, the machine may, if desired, be slightly tilted so that the wheel 3 which is toward the wall is elevated slightly above the floor or scaffolding upon which the machine rests, thus throwing the entire weight of the machine upon the caster 4 and the other wheel 3 which is farther from the wall. Even when in this slightly tilted position, the machine may, if desired, be moved along the floor while the abrading head is in motion, and may be guided by suitable means such as a strip of material nailed to the floor just outside of the outer wheel 3 and extending parallel to the wall, to prevent the wheel 3 from moving farther away from the wall as the machine rolls along.

I claim:

1. A surfacing machine comprising a support, a frame mounted on said support for substantially vertical upward and downward movements relatively to the support, a shaft mounted on said frame for rotation about'a substantially horizontal axis, said shaft moving upwardly and downwardly bodily with said frame, motor means mounted on said support, a substantially vertical shaft driven by said motor means, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said vertical shaft in all positions to which said horizontal shaft may be moved by upward and downward movement of said frame, a carrier mounted on said frame and movable bodily therewith and also rotatable relatively to said frame about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, a third shaft mounted on and movable bodily with said carrier and extending substantially perpendicular to said horizontal shaft, means for driving said third shaft from said horizontal shaft, and rotary surfacing means operatively connected to said third shaft and driven thereby.

2. A surfacing. machine comprising a support,

may be manipulated a frame mounted on said support for substantially vertical upward and downward movements relatively to the support, a shaft mounted on said frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said shaft moving upwardly and downwardly bodily with said frame, motor means mounted on said support, a substantially vertical shaft driven by said motor means, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said vertical shaft in all positions to which said horizontal shaft may be moved by upward and downward movement of said frame, a carrier mounted on said frame and movable bodily therewith and also rotatable relatively to said frame about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, a third shaft mounted on and movable bodily with said carrier and extending substantially perpendicular to said horizontal shaft, means for driving said third shaft from said horizontal shaft, rotary surfacing means driven by said third shaft to rotate approximately in a plane perpendicular to said third shaft, and means for holding said carrier in any one of a plurality of different positions with respect to said frame, so that said third shaft may be held in different positions at an angle to each other to enable said surfacing means to operate upon different surfaces at an angle to each other.

3. A surfacing machine comprising a support, a frame mounted on said support for substantially vertical upward and downward movements relatively to the support, a shaft mounted on said frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said shaft moving upwardly and downwardly bodily with said frame, motor means mounted on said support, a substantially ver tical shaft driven by said motor means, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said vertical shaft in all positions towhich said horizontal shaft may be moved by upward and downward movement of said frame, a carrier mounted on said frame and movable bodily therewith and also rotatable relatively to said frame about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, a third shaft mounted on and movable bodily with said carrier and extending substantially perpendicular to said horizontal shaft, means for driving said third shaft from said horizontal shaft, surfacing means, and a resilient connection between said surfacing means and said third shaft, whereby said surfacing means is loosely mounted on said third shaft and rotated thereby.

4. A surfacing machine comprising a support, a frame mounted on said support for substantially vertical upward and downward movements relatively to the support, a shaft mounted on said frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said shaft moving upwardly and downwardly bodily with said frame, motor means mounted on said support, a substantially vertical shaft driven by said motor means, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said vertical shaft in all positions to which said horizontal shaft may be moved by upward and downward movement of said frame, a carrier mounted on said frame and movable bodily therewith and also rotatable relatively to said frame about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, a third shaft mounted on and movable bodily with said carrier and extending substantially perpendicular to said horizontal shaft, means for driving said third shaft from said horizontal shaft, surfacing means including a surfacing head element, a driving element mounted on said third shaft, apertures in one of said elements, and pins secured to the other of said elements and extending loosely through said apertures to provide a driving connection between said third shaft and said surfacing means.

5. A surfacing machine adapted to perform surfacing operations upon both walls and ceilings, comprising a carriage, motor means mounted on said carriage, frame means mounted on said carriage for upward and downward substantially vertical movement thereon, substantially vertical telescoping shaft means mounted in part on said frame means and in part on said carriage and driven by said motor means, a substantially horizontal shaft mounted on said frame means for bodily upward and downward movement therewith, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said telescoping vertical shaft, turret means mounted on said frame means for rotation thereon about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, a surfacing head shaft mounted on said turret means for rotation about its own axis and also for bodily rotation with said turret means about the rotary axis of said turret means, means for driving said surfacing head shaft from said horizontal shaft, and surfacing head means including a surfacing element operatively connected to said head shaft to be rotated thereby approximately in a plane perpendicular to said head shaft, so that said surfacing element may operate upon wall surfaces when said turret means is in one position and upon ceiling surfaces when said turret means is turned to another position.

6. A surfacing machine adapted to perform surfacing operations upon both walls and ceilings, comprising a carriage, motor means mounted on said carriage, frame means mounted on said carriage for upward and downward substantially vertical movement thereon, substantially vertical telescoping shaft means mounted in part on said frame means and in part on said carriage and driven by said motor means, a substantially horizontal shaft mounted on said frame means for bodily upward and downward movement therewith, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said telescoping vertical shaft, turret means mounted on said frame means for rotation thereon about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, a surfacing head shaft mounted on said turret means for rotation about its own axis and also for bodily rotation with said turret means about the rotary axis of said turret means, means for driving said surfacing head shaft from said horizontal shaft, surfacing head means mounted on said surfacing head shaft and including a rotary surfacing element operatively connected to and driven by said head shaft, and latching means for holding said turret means at will either in a position in which said surfacing head shaft is substantially horizontal or in a position in which said surfacing head shaft is substantially vertical.

'7. A surfacing machine adapted to perform surfacing operations upon walls, ceilings, and floors, comprising a carriage, motor means mounted on said carriage, frame means mounted on said carriage for upward and downward substantially vertical movement thereon, substantially vertical telescoping shaft means mounted in part on said frame means and in part on said carriage and driven by said motor means, a bracket, a substantially horizontal shaft rotatably mounted on said bracket, turret means mounted on said bracket for rotation relatively thereto about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, means for mounting said bracket in either of twopositions on said frame means, one of said positions being nearer the top of said frame means and the other of said positions being near the bottom of said frame means, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said telescoping vertical shaft when said bracket is mounted in either of said positions, a surfacing head shaft mounted on said turret means for rotation about its own axis and also for bodily rotation with said turret means about the rotary axis of said turret means, means for driving said surfacing head shaft from said horizontal shaft, and surfacing head means supported at least partially from said surfacing head shaft and including a rotary surfacing element operatively connected to and driven by said head shaft, said surfacing head means being adapted to operate upon a wall surface when said turret is turned so that said surfacing head shaft is substantially horizontal and being adapted to operate upon a ceiling surface when said bracket is mounted in its upper position on said frame means and said turret means is turned so that said surfacing head shaft is substantially vertical, and being adapted to operate upon a floor surface when said bracket is mounted in its lower position on said frame means and when said turret means is turned so that said surfacing head shaft is substantially vertical.

8. A surfacing machine comprising a wheeled carriage, a substantially horizontal shaft, means on said carriage for rotating said shaft, a longitudinally slidable head shaft substantially perpendicular to said horizontal shaft and driven thereby, surfacing head means mounted at least partially on and rotatably driven by said head shaft, means for moving said horizontal shaft, head shaft, and surfacing head means together upwardly and downwardly by rectilinear movement in a substantially vertical direction, and spring means tending to move said head shaft longitudinally to press said surfacing head means constantly upon the surface being worked upon.

9. A surfacing machine comprising a wheeled carriage, an elevating frame movable along a substantially rectilinear path substantially vertically upwardly and downwardly on said carriage, a substantially horizontal shaft mounted on and movable bodily upwardly and downwardly with said elevating frame, means for rotating said shaft, a head shaft substantially perpendicular to and driven by said horizontal shaft and mounted to turn bodily on an axis substantially coincident with that of said horizontal shaft as well as to rotate on its own axis, said head shaft also being mounted to slide longitudinally With respect to said horizontal shaft, means-for holding said head shaft in any one of a plurality of positions at an angle to each other around the axis of said horizontal shaft, surfacing head means rotatably driven by said head shaft to rotate approximately in a plane perpendicular to said head shaft, and spring means tending to move said head shaft longitudinally to press said surfacing head means against the surface being worked upon.

10. A surfacing machine including a wheeled carriage, means forming a substantially vertical guideway on said carriage, shaft supporting means movable upwardly and downwardly along said guideway, a substantially horizontal shaft rotatably mouted on said supporting means and movable bodily upwardly or downwardly with said supporting means when the latter moves along said guideway, power means mounted on said carriage, means for driving said horizontal shaft from said power means, a shaft bracket mounted for rotation with respect to said supporting means about an axis substantially coincidental with that of said horizontal shaft, means for retaining said bracket in any one of a plurality of positions with respect to said supporting means, a second shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket and positioned substantially perpendicularly to said horizontal shaft, means for driving said second shaft from said horizontal shaft, and rotatable surfacing means driven by said second shaft and rotating approximately in a plane perpendicular to said second shaft, so that when said bracket is positioned to hold said second shaft approximately vertically, said surfacing means may operate upon an approximately horizontal surface, and when said bracket is positioned to hold said second shaft approximately horizontally, said surfacing means may operate upon an approximately vertical surface, the upper surface of said surfacing means, when adjusted to operate upon a substantially horizontal ceiling, being at an elevation above all other parts of the machine.

WILLIAM O. LOCKLIN. 

